Introduction

Otterman history has been the sole endeavour of western orientalists and academics. Many more turkish and moslem historians have recaptured the narrative through meticulous archive work. In this second part of an extended interview with one such man, historian, doctor jakub ahmed, we take a look at some of the challenges and controversies associated with the ulema during the latter period of the ottoman empire. We scrutinize the claims that the ullema outlawed for ting, press and coffee. I also ask him about the ulme's role in the deposition of abdul hamed the second, a revivalist of the caliphate.